Sunday, April 21, 2013

First Smartphone

I wasn't feeling well, so i thought i would give a call to my friend to ask what was needed to be done in home-work. I picked the phone diary, which was neatly placed over the wooden desk wrapped in a black leather cover coming out from the edges. My fingers quickly ran through the alphabetical list to locate the friend's name and with other hand i started dialing the number putting my finger in the little pores adjacent to the numerals.

The above is a forgotten tale. No more phone diaries, no more wooden desks especially bought to place phone over it. Sometimes i miss it, but then soon enough i realize it has changed for good. The next thing is a smart phone. Most importantly you can still make or receive calls, but sometimes it can does what no one expects it to do. I am no different in this case. I bought a Blackberry bold 9900 when i first came to States, and was in love with it the moment i hold it in my hand. It certainly was the best thing i could have gotten in exchange of few dollars. Soon enough, i was addicted to my phone. But i never did let it slip into a stage, where i wasn't aware of how the things were working in background. Slowly and steadily, i took it for granted for all the various purposes which were solved by using it. Then as the times changed, the technology brought a new revolution with it. It was Android. To those who are finding it hard to understand what exactly is the difference between all these terms which at first appears so techy, but trust me, these are not. Android is the operating system, which drives the phone in a manner similiar to an engine which runs an automobile. The technology has changed the engine of phone, it has changed the way our phone processes the data. Moreover Android is an open-source platform, which means any manufacturer can use it for their phone models. Samsung did the same and launched their own series of smart phones.

On the other side of world, i was still happy using my Blackberry model with an outdated version of operating system, which stands nowhere in front of Android. But then two years were too much to stick to the same phone, and that too in a world, where people don't hesitate to switch their partners too. So i got an Android phone, or it would be more suitable that i bought a Samsung smart phone. I said it so, because the brand Samsung was both the driving force and decisive factor in buying a new smartphone. Though very unlikely, i missed my blackberry for first few days (sometimes even now too). But then the change to a new phone was very smooth and hassle-free.  Its been more than 2 months now that i'm using it and loving it more and more with each passing of day. But i do admit sometimes it eats much of my important time, but then blame should go to my brain instead of this phone.

Sometimes before sleeping, i stare at my phone and it makes me think what would have happened had i been using the same normal phone even in present? No more applications, no Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp or Blogger. Just a phone with which i could either make a call or receive it. That's true, but then won't i miss all the things which are just a click away from me? Won't i miss feeling so better talking to my loved ones over the weekend? Hasn't it been useful in the times when i have no one but this phone to share my feelings with.

And then life is all about change, so be it..

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

FIR (First Information Report)

A tale narrated on Twitter by when he had to go to the nearest police station to file FIR for his stolen wallet in New Delhi.

Do I have to go to the nearest police station to register a FIR? I just found out my wallet was stolen on the railway station last night. Does anyone know what the procedure is when one loses a wallet? I just blocked my bank cards. Now what, next?

Thanks a lot for all your helpful suggestions. heading to the police station now to register an FIR. I lost my PAN and Election ID Card too.

If this is what I had to go through in just getting an FIR from the police, imagine the plight of someone who needs police help in distress. I had it relatively easy as I could exercise privilege by speaking to them as an empowered citizen. I managed to get the stamped letter.

Despite digitizing complaint system the police still fill forms in triplicates. I had to write the same letter three times (just like that). First they kept made me change the word 'stolen' to 'lost' because it would be hard to prove in the courts. Rewrite the letter again. I did. Second, after writing the letter second time, it got passed around and within five minutes was promptly lost among the various desks.

My diction/clothes helped too. The police know class divisions better than most. I lost my temper and gave a earful. In return, the officer gave me one too for having too much on his plate. But why lose a letter I gave? Third attempt at writing letter, while a junior police officer was assigned to simultaneously copy the letter in word on a computer.

After a 30-minute wait, I was finally given a letter, which was promptly signed & stamped. I thanked them all & left the station. Phew! They didn't want me to write all the items I had in my wallet. They didn't want me to mention cash. They wanted me to mention 'lost in Agra'. The officer made it clear. He said don't make our life difficult. Just say you lost your bank cards and your official ID cards. That's it.

He was dictating the letter to me like I didn't know how to write. If I formulated my sentence, I was being out of line with his template. Another chap (not from Delhi) who had lost his laptop on the train was told not to stress them as they should take care of their belongings.

The police station in India has to be the most depressing (frustrating) place in the country (apart from government hospitals). I still had it easy. I was out in an hour from the police station unlike others who are made to wait & wait till they give up on the system.